If, in 2018, luxury arrived at a value of 330 billion euros, up +3% from 2017, then second hand fashion arrived at the remarkable value of 22 billion euros, while growing at a rhythm that is quadruple the growth rate of luxury (+12%) and, according to BCG forecasts, it will probably even arrive at 31 billion in 2021.

It’s above all youths driving this market, attracted by the possibilities of buying a product with a more advantageous quality/price ratio. Among the motivations behind such purchases is the possibility of accessing a vintage or one-of-a-kind piece or sometimes it’s simply just a matter of taking a more sustainable purchasing approach. Just as important is the fact that 60% of Millennials and Generation Z when asked, confirm they consider the potential resale of the item when purchasing a luxury product…

What however are the products that sell the most in the second hand circuit? Mostly bags – accounting for 40% of sales – while for the brands with the greatest appeal we find the “usual suspects” of Chanel, Luis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, and Dior next to outsiders like Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen.
What feedback do brands sold in the second hand circuit receive? Not a lot, and there is also the risk of losing the prestige constructed on their exclusivity. An example? The legendary Birkin: it’s easier to find it second hand than purchase it new, considering the long waiting lists caused by the fact that Hermès continues to produce it in a quantity inferior to the demand…